The last light of evening fell over the town, and parents dragged their snow-covered children home by the ears.
The King of the North, the Town's uncrowned king, the hide-and-seek champion, and chosen one of the snowball god strode proudly toward the Castle. The sight of Blom not far away brought him up short.
"Childish games..."
Annan wiped the smile from his face and muttered hoarsely, head lowered as he hurried past Blom.
Back at the Castle, Annan tidied his black hair and asked the Butler who greeted him, "Where are Eldest Sister and Second Sister?"
"In Lady Idelia's Bedroom."
Annan sent Blom away, then took the Water Elemental to his room and cast the Lesser Summoning Spell to contact Breeze City.
The wheelchair Annan had ordered made in a rush rolled out of the Portal. He sat in it to test it. The cashmere-covered seat and armrests were warm, while the hardened gel around the wooden wheels kept it silent as it moved.
Along with the wheelchair, which he found satisfactory, came a thousand Gold Coins. Annan asked the Ogre to tell the Artisan to make another, had the Water Elemental carry the chest of coins, and knocked on his Eldest Sister's Bedroom door.
Knock, knock, knock—
Footsteps approached. The door opened, and all Annan saw was someone's back as she ran into the room. They were watching The Mage Tower's Fall.
"Oh? What's this?" Leila asked, pointing theatrically at the wheelchair.
"A New Year's gift for the Family and our Eldest Sister."
"What's a New Year's gift?"
"A gift to celebrate the new year."
The Saint Laurent Calendar was nearly a thousand years old, yet apparently no one here had ever thought to celebrate it.
Leila lifted Yi Idelia into the wheelchair and pushed her around the Bedroom.